Thanjavur Sightseeing Tours

Unfold the charms of Punnainallur, a rustic settlement located 6km east of Thanjavur that can be easily reached by the Thanjavur–Nagapattinam Highway. Home to the renowned Punnainallur Mariamman and some of the other historic temples, the 5 hour tour of this village will get you acquainted with its distinct life and culture. With your arrival in Thanjavur at around 9am, head towards the Punnainallur Village in the company of an experienced guide. Meander through the rustic terrains, explore the balmy charm of the countryside, witness life in the village side and get to know the rural essence of Thanjavur. Post this, visit some of the ancient temples like Punnainallur Mariamman, Kathaiamman and several others, and get close to the religious faiths and beliefs of the local people. Make it to their homes, and witness their daily lives amidst the lush and enchanting countryside. While on this tour, you can easily spot the villagers engrossed in dairy farming, pot making, bronze work, cut glass work and traditional doll making.You can also take part in pot making. Villagers in Punnainallur are also much experienced and renowned for crafting ‘Veena’, a type of musical instrument. In case you are visiting this village during the festive seasons, you can also witness the colourful celebrations like Mariamman Kovil Thiruvizha and some others. Folk music, artists, dance performance and merriment are the main elements of this festival, and it is attended with full joy and cheerfulness. Duration: Around 5 hours

Thanjavur is an epitome of heritage and culture in South India. Having set the trend for several similar civilizations existing during its heydays, even today it is a major attraction. Boasting of some of the best museums in the country, this one-day journey helps weave Thanjavur’s story. Your guided tour of 10 hours starts around 9am and will cover some of the richest places in the city. First stop the Art Gallery. Visit it for its great collection of old sculpture and skeleton of a huge whale swept shore years ago. Time at the Royal Museum will uncover Tanjore paintings, masterpieces in bronze, and other sculptures. Get addicted at the oldest library in Asia, Saraswathi Mahal Museum with its variety of palm-leaf manuscripts, Chinese prints, books and paintings. Your final destination en route the tour is South Zone Cultural Centre, a central government initiative to preserve heritage work. Duration: 10 hours 

A Thanjavur visit cannot be limited as a pilgrimage destination. This place offers some brilliant pieces of art and architecture from a bygone era that has stood the perils of time. Towers, sculptures, woodwork, frescos, and every other detail remain near close to original even today. At the end of this daylong trip that takes you across a few temples, you’ll be left behind with a blend of amazement, knowledge, and appreciation. Your guided tour of around 10 hours begins around 9am. No temple tour in Thanjavur is complete without a visit to the Brahadeeswara Temple. Be astonished at the sight of this 1,000-year-old piece of heritage marvel.  Visit the Punnainallur Mariamman Temple, for its deity is believed to stun you with her power. The grand temple of Panchanadeeswarar will surprise you with its design-engineering marvel of producing echoes in certain areas. Take a break and refresh with lunch around 1pm. Allow the Thittai Guru Temple to lure you with its unique feature of a drop of water falling on the Siva Linga every 24 minutes from the ceiling. Also visit couple of the oldest temples in the region Maamani Templeand Nisimbasuthani Temple. Duration: 10 hours

On this day trip, which introduces the local flavour and fervour of Thanjavur, you’ll witness why this region is a fascination amongst varied people.  Unfold its rich heritage art and architectural marvels, signs of literature and music, legacy of exquisite handicrafts and a lot more. Brace yourself to an entire day of soaking in the local life and history of Thanjavur. Your guided tour of around 10 hours starts around 9am and stretches across the dominating symbol of Chola Empire, the Brahadeeswara Temple now protected as a heritage site under UNESCO. Understand its glorious past and observe its present day status. Visit one of the oldest libraries in Asia, Saraswathi Mahal Library with a collection of ancient palm-leaf and paper manuscripts and sketches. Stop by at Rajagopalasami Canon, a less visited object of heritage value at the Thanjavur Fort. Spend time at the South Zone Cultural Centre that preserves and promotes traditional cultural heritage. Explore artist workshops and homes specialising in Tanjore Paintings to witness the evergreen style taking shape on hundreds of canvas. Duration: 10 hours

A favoured capital of the Cholas, the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu, a treasure trove of art, craftsmanship and architecture – Thanjavur has portrayed various roles in history across its rulers. One such period belonged to the Nayaks, who were responsible for some eye-catching pieces of architecture that stand tall even today. They also propelled handicrafts and art during their times. On this guided tour of ten hours, you’ll visit a few temples with excellent representations of Lord Brahma, monumental sites, and get briefed on Nayak style of painting and the famous Thanjavur Pith Work handicraft. Around 9am, you’ll start your trip by visiting Brahadeeswara Temple, Thanjavur’s most iconic representation. A 10th century monument, its an excellent example of Dravidian architecture. Over here you’ll find Lord Brahma as a subsidiary deity along the sanctum periphery. Move on to Kandeeswarar Temple to understand a tale of destruction from the Hindu mythology. Next steps will take you to Papanasamor a town called Destruction of Sins that hosts the Ramasamy or Vishnu Temple. You’ll be taken aback by the story that envelops around the temple’s origin. Last stop on the religious leg of the trip moves to Mahamaham Tank, in the heart of Kumbakonam. Refresh yourself with a dip in this holy pond. The art angle of the trip comes as interactions with artisans involved in the world famous Tanjore paintings. Also visit workshops creating the traditional art form Shola Pith Work. Duration: 10 hours